“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19,20
We have rented a car on our vacation. It was clean and shiny when we picked it up. The carpets were clean and the gas tank was full. The rental agency asked one thing of us…please bring it back in the condition to which it was loaned to you. Of course, we will care for it while it is in our possession. We through our trash away. We are careful not to spill drinks on the carpet or run into other cars with it. We don’t scratch up the paint with keys or open our doors onto poles. And when we are done with it we will bring it back with a full gas tank. The rental agency has asked us to care for that which is theirs, out of courtesy for price they paid for the car originally.
So, it is with our bodies. If you are in Christ Jesus, your body is no longer yours but it houses the Spirit of God. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, whom you have received from God. You were bought with a price and therefore should honor God with your Body!
I’ll be honest…I didn’t get this truth, up front when I received Christ. It didn’t grow roots in my core. It has just sat on the surface. Whether it be not caring for the outward appearance of my body or its inner workings, I failed in keeping my temple consecrated to the Lord but somewhere along the line it has been changing and I’m seeing the truth of the scripture. I have a standard of living that needs to be adhered to because I am not my own.
We all have struggles with our bodies in this world. We aren’t happy with their appearance so we try to manipulate what God gave us, to appease our own desires. We use our bodies to control that which is uncontrollable in our lives through over eating, under eating, to much unhealthy eating, imbibing in alcohol or drugs to numb our bodies. Or we do other things that we think will release pain in our mind, will or emotions. Perhaps it is self-harm, cutting, extreme risk taking. Or maybe we have just ignored the temple and have stopped exercising or doing maintenance on our bodies.
Whatever it is, we need to go back to scripture and realize GOD lives in YOU! Christ’s death freed you from sin but you have an obligation to keep the temple healthy and consecrated to Christ! You are not your own, you were bought by a price and just as we will not destroy the car we rented, you and I should not destroy the body we’ve been given. It is sacred territory and should be honored and respected. I’m not saying forsake Starbucks, or live in a bubble, I’m just saying live in a way that honors the Temple of the Living God. Treasure what has been purchased for you and Honor God with your body.
Preachin’ from the Desert,
Tracy
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